Is the Atkins diet realistic for the long term?

Question

I talked to my doctor about it and she told me that realistically, it was incredibly hard to rule out so many carbs from your diet. She said, usually people crack, eat carbs and gain the weight back. Is this true? Are any of you out there having a lot of success with the diet? If not, is there another diet that you attire to?

In case you want to throw in some fat cracks, I'm not overweight. I am just curious about the Atkins diet, because there was a lot of hype about it for a while.

Answer 1

You could ask Dr. Atkins.......oh! sorry he is not available for comment. Eat your carbs and move more.

Answer 2

I've been on Atkins for 4 years now and I love it. I lost over 60 lbs. My cholesterol and blood pressure are perfect. The trick is to change you're eating habits. The induction period kicks your metabolism into gear then all you have to do is keep you metabolism going. It certainly works and it suppresses you appetite. Just make sure you don't stay on the induction period for too long. Just stay on induction for 3-5 weeks and then go to your maintenance plan. Like I said, I lost 60 lbs and I've kept it off for 4 years. I never went back to eating junk because I just didn't crave it anymore.

If you still don't feel comfortable with Atkins, you may want to try south beach diet instead. It also works by chopping the carbs but you get to eat a lot more fruits heath carbs. I've never used it but I've heard a lot of good things.

Answer 3

I tried the Atkins diet for a month. I lost 28 pounds. However, I gained the triple amount of pounds when I quited. The reason why it is not realistic in terms of sticking to it, is because of the high levels of uric acid. I tried it again and I had to quit due to the pain, and the high levels of uric acid.

http://www.goutfree.com/
Crash diets/Protein- As stated above uric acid can store for many years in the stored fat, liver, and connective tissue before the joints are affected. Fast weight loss can release large amounts of stored uric acid into the blood, more than can be expelled just as quickly. This can push an already growing problem over the top and into some people's very first attacks. Same for high protein diets like the Atkins. Lack of alkaline food balance and an overabundance of protein can result in extremely high uric acid production and storage. Some may notice the effects right away, while others can be adding to the already growing levels and experience the results down the road when "the cup is too full".

Answer 4

No, the atkins diet is not realistic for long term use. The Atkins diet is all about low or no carb, and that just isn't healthy. The body relies very heavily on carbs for its MAIN source of energy. Cutting carbs out totally will make you feel more sluggish and mentally drained. You will lose weight with this diet because you are reducing your caloric intake. Remember: If you take in more calories that you need you will gain weight, if you take in less calories that you need you will lose weight. So the key to losing weight is putting yourself in a caloric deficiency. ie: if your body needs 3000 calories a day to maintain your weight, drop your calories by 500 (2500 total calories per day) and you will lose 1lb of fat per week. You can do this by eating 500 less calories a week or by exercising in a way that burns 500 calories a week. It is important to remember that slow and gradually weight loss is very essential to KEEP the fat off. Anyone can lose weight, but not everyone keeps it off.

P.S. 1lb of fat = 3500 calories. That's why i said drop 500 calories/ day. 500 x 7 days per week = 3500 calories

Answer 5

There's a reason the Atkins company went bankrupt.

It may keep weight off but neglects the body's need for fiber and roughage necessary for sustainable health (beyond weight).

As much as people would like to think otherwise, limited intake of a balanced diet and exercise are the healthiest way to maintain proper weight.

Answer 6

Here is what you need to do, if you are serious about losing weight and keeping it off. Eat 6 small meals a day about every 4 hours. Here what that will do for you, your metabolism will increase (i.e. Loose weight) and you will have more engry. If you go on a diet and eat less, your metabolism will slow down and store to fat. That is why diets dont work. Only the size of your fist, carbs (examples:baked potato, pasta, oatmeal, beans, corn, melon, apples, fat free yogurt, whole wheat breads)in one and protien (examples:chicken breast, swordfish, shrimp, turkey breast) in the other. You can also eat vegetables and salads with any meal, they dont have none or little fat). 30min cardo exercise every day. Any of these(examples: walking, jogging, swimming,running, biking, ect), Monday cardo, tues upper body (arms: curls, tricep extensions,pull ups, front press)(abdominals: leg pull crunch, leg raises), (chest: bench press, butterfly, pullover)(shoulders: front press, arm pullover, cross county skier machine)(back:seated row, lat pull downs, back extension)(YOU DONT HAVE TO DO IN ONE DAY, mix it up) wed cardo, thurs lower body (legs: leg pull,leg press, squats, lounges) fri cardo, sat upper. Sunday eat anything you want and dont exercising, you do this on sunday so your body doesnt go into starvation mode. YOU NEED TO TAKE SUNDAY OFF. If you stilck with this you will have a great body. also drink aleast 8oz of water daily! Stay away from Mcdonals, Wendys, ect because there is nothing good for you on the menu's even the salads are bad (beaon bits, cheeze, dressing, ect) Good Luck :)

Answer 7

Treatment for Excessive Fat and Weight :-
PHYTOLACCA BERRY's Mother Tincture is perhaps the safest and sure fire way of loosing excessive fat around abdomen. With Phytolacca Berry once you loose the excessive fat and weight you don't get it back because you body takes care of itself after that and keeps you from gathering up excessive fat. It is prescribed after having a baby too, to get the tummy to loose its flab and to make it flatter and tighter. And after loosing weight with this you don't get flabby it tightens up the flab and skin along with helping your body to shed the excessive accumulation of fat around the girth
The dosage is 15 to 20 drops of the tincture in half a cup of hot water thrice a day half hour before or after meals.
Avoid Chocolates, Coffee, Mints, Red Meat and Carbonated and Alcoholic drinks while taking Homeopathic Medicines. You have to take it for at least 30 to 45 days after that you start to feel the results.
To the best of my knowledge its the safest and the most sure fire way of loosing fat and weight and keeping it of for keeps. Excellent remedy for Obese people who cant seem to shed weight despite trying.
Homeopathic Remedies can be found at all Major Herbal Stores or could be bought on line, In most of the world Homeopathic remedies are quite cheap and easy to find and they do not need a prescription.
Take care and God Bless !

Answer 8

Do you know that depriving your body of carbs can kill you if you stick with it for many years?? its called Ketosis and it is very dangerous. The best way to start losing weight is to decrease your caloric intake by at least 100 calories a day and begin an exercise routine : )

Answer 9

I know someone that got an increase in cholesteral, bowel problems. Great weight loss routine, but not for long term.